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UK coronavirus live: Hancock says contact tracing system to be in place 'in matter of weeks' UK coronavirus live: Hancock says contact tracing system to be in place 'in matter of weeks'
(32 minutes later)
FFifteen social care staff have died with coronavirus, says Hancock; Death toll in Scotland rises by 77; part of a PPE consignment arrivesFFifteen social care staff have died with coronavirus, says Hancock; Death toll in Scotland rises by 77; part of a PPE consignment arrives
NHS England has announced 665 further deaths of people who tested positive for Covid-19, bringing the total number of confirmed reported deaths in hospitals in England to 16,272.
Of the 665 new deaths announced today:- 119 occurred on 21 April- 254 occurred on 20 April- 108 occurred on 19 April
The figures also show 175 of the new deaths recorded took place between 1-18 April, and the remaining nine deaths occurred in March, with the earliest new recorded death taking place on 22 March.
NHS England releases updated figures each day showing the dates of every coronavirus-related death in hospitals in England, often including previously uncounted deaths that took place several days or even weeks ago. This is because of the time it takes for deaths to be confirmed as having tested positive for Covid-19, for post-mortem examinations to be processed, and for data from the tests to be validated.
The figures published today by NHS England show 8 April currently has the highest total for the most hospital deaths occurring on a single day: 828.
Public Health Wales has announced another 15 people have died in Wales after testing positive for Covid-19, bringing the total there to 624.
A further 274 cases were confirmed, bringing the total number to 8,124. A total of 28,088 tests have now been carried out.
Further information here.
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Email: lucy.campbell@theguardian.comTwitter: @lucy_campbell_
During PMQs Sir Ed Davey, the acting Lib Dem leader, called for a judge-led inquiry into the government’s handling of coronavirus. Dominic Raab said he did not agree, saying people would expect the government to be focusing now on handling the crisis.During PMQs Sir Ed Davey, the acting Lib Dem leader, called for a judge-led inquiry into the government’s handling of coronavirus. Dominic Raab said he did not agree, saying people would expect the government to be focusing now on handling the crisis.
In a post-PMQs briefing, Sir Keir Starmer’s spokesman also indicated that the time was not right for an inquiry. The spokesman said: In a post-PMQs briefing, Keir Starmer’s spokesman also said the time was not right for an inquiry. The spokesman said:
Ken Clarke, the former Tory chancellor, said he expects it will take several years for the UK economy to recover from the pandemic – and even then it won’t “bounce back” to where it was. He told BBC Radio 4’s World at One today:
Labour’s Maria Eagle asks if there is a link between Liverpool having a higher than average incidence of coronavirus and the government’s decision to allow the Liverpool v Atlético Madrid match to go ahead on 11 March. The government’s deputy chief scientific adviser has said there might be a link. Does the government think there is a connection?Labour’s Maria Eagle asks if there is a link between Liverpool having a higher than average incidence of coronavirus and the government’s decision to allow the Liverpool v Atlético Madrid match to go ahead on 11 March. The government’s deputy chief scientific adviser has said there might be a link. Does the government think there is a connection?
Hancock says that is a question for the scientists.Hancock says that is a question for the scientists.
And that’s the end of the Hancock statement.And that’s the end of the Hancock statement.
The UK has signed an agreement with Greece to clampdown on migrant crossings in the east Mediterranean, the Home Office has announced. The UK has signed an agreement with Greece to clamp down on migrant crossings in the east Mediterranean, the Home Office has announced.
A significant proportion of undocumented migrants from the Middle East, Asia and Africa who seek to reach the UK pass through Greece first on their journey across Europe. A significant proportion of undocumented migrants from the Middle East, Asia and Africa who seek to reach the UK first pass through Greece on their journey across Europe.
The Home Office said the joint action plan signed by the UK and Greek governments is designed to tighten asylum and returns processes, enhance work to dismantle migrant smuggling networks and renews the deployment of a Border Force cutter, a patrol vessel that picks up migrants in the Mediterranean. The Home Office said the joint action plan, signed by the UK and Greek governments, is designed to tighten asylum and returns processes, enhance work to dismantle migrant smuggling networks and renews the deployment of a Border Force cutter, a patrol vessel that picks up migrants in the Mediterranean.
Chris Philp, the minister for immigration compliance, said:Chris Philp, the minister for immigration compliance, said:
This is from the Labour MP Dr Rosena Allin-KhanThis is from the Labour MP Dr Rosena Allin-Khan
She has repeatedly urged the UK government to bring its advice in line with that of the World Health Organization, which recommends self-isolation for 14 days as you can still spread the virus after the symptoms have resolved.She has repeatedly urged the UK government to bring its advice in line with that of the World Health Organization, which recommends self-isolation for 14 days as you can still spread the virus after the symptoms have resolved.
Labour’s Barry Sheerman, appearing via Zoom, tells Hancock that the “management and leadership of this present crisis has been shambolic”. He says the UK has lagged behind Germany and that a death toll of around 800 people (the daily figure at certain points) is equivalent to two jumbo jets crashing.Labour’s Barry Sheerman, appearing via Zoom, tells Hancock that the “management and leadership of this present crisis has been shambolic”. He says the UK has lagged behind Germany and that a death toll of around 800 people (the daily figure at certain points) is equivalent to two jumbo jets crashing.
He also claims that NHS whistleblowers have been leant on not to tell the truth about conditions in the NHS. He goes on:He also claims that NHS whistleblowers have been leant on not to tell the truth about conditions in the NHS. He goes on:
Hancock says Sheerman had misjudged his tone, and missed what the government was doing. The prime goals were to flatten the curve, and to ensure the NHS was not overwhelmed. Both of those challenges had so far been met, he says.Hancock says Sheerman had misjudged his tone, and missed what the government was doing. The prime goals were to flatten the curve, and to ensure the NHS was not overwhelmed. Both of those challenges had so far been met, he says.
And he says Sheerman is wrong to say whistleblowers have been silenced.And he says Sheerman is wrong to say whistleblowers have been silenced.
This is what Matt Hancock said in his opening statement about the UK being at the peak of the pandemic. He said:
Labour’s Hilary Benn asks if the government will provide free masks to people if it advises that they should be worn.
Hancock says the government will follow the expert advice. He says giving out free masks would be extraordinary. He says the government does not want to do anything that could lead to the NHS missing out.
Hancock says home testing through the post will become available. He says this will be particularly useful for people living in rural areas.
Jeremy Corbyn, the former Labour leader, says the director general of the World Health Organization said “test, test, test” was the way to address this problem. But that did not happen. Will it happen now?
Hancock says testing has been developed “at pace”. The UK was one of the first countries in the world to develop a test, he says. He says the government has had “its foot on the gas” the whole time.
Coronavirus-related deaths in care homes could be double the number already reported, the government has said.
The Department of Health and Social Care also feared a “significant rise” in deaths not involving Covid-19 among residents, it said on Wednesday.
There were 1,043 coronavirus deaths in care homes in England and Wales by April 10, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
In a statement with the Care Quality Commission (CQC), the government said:
One scientist believes care home deaths as a proportion of the national total may keep increasing, even as the NHS sees a decline. Prof Carl Heneghan, the director of the Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine at the University of Oxford previously said:
Greg Clark, the Conservative former business secretary who now chairs the Commons science committee, asks if Sage, the scientific advisory group for emergencies, backed the target of having 100,000 tests a day by the end of the month.
Hancock says there was scientific input into that decision, although he says he cannot remember whether it directly came from Sage.
Jeremy Hunt, the Conservative former health secretary, says that to ease the lockdown, the government has to be able to track and trace every new case. Will this be in place in two weeks, he asks. And will the government appoint a “big hitter” to take charge of this?
Hancock says the government is ramping up its capacity for contact tracing “in a matter of weeks”.
Hancock is now responding to some questions from Jonathan Ashworth, the shadow health secretary. Hancock is in the chamber, but Ashworth asked his questions by Zoom.
Hancock says 15 social care staff have died from coronavirus.
(Dominic Raab could not answer this question earlier. See 12.13pm.)
As for why the death rate in Germany is lower, Hancock says one factor is the category of people affected in the early stages of the outbreak in Germany. (He does not explain what this means.)
Hancock says the government is investigating why a disproportionate number of BAME people have died from coronavirus.
He says the government’s contact tracing app is at the beta stage and in trials.
Matt Hancock, the health secretary, is now making a Commons statement on coronavirus.
Here are some lines from his opening statement.
That was Sir Keir Starmer’s first outing as Labour leader at PMQs, but just as importantly this marked the debut for a whole new way of running this question session: a “hybrid” system, with most MPs participating by Zoom. Both probably amount to a distinct improvement on what came before.
First, the process. On a technical level it mostly worked well. One MP did not manage to dial in in time, and another got cut off early. But overall it went smoothly.
More importantly, PMQs without 400-odd MPs in the chamber makes everything quieter, calmer, more intelligible and more grown-up. For once the proceedings sounded like the question time sessions that take place in the Scottish parliament and the Welsh assembly. Without the jeering and the aggro, it lacked gladiatorial edge, and frankly it was probably a bit more boring than the old PMQs. But boring is a much underrated virtue in governance. It will be be very interesting to see whether the Commons ever reverts to how it operated before when (or more probably if) this is all over.
In the old PMQs, MPs worked on the assumption that there was always a “winner”. (Journalists like me wrote it up in those terms too, because that was how the participants viewed the proceedings.) Under Zoom PMQs it is much harder to imagine anyone “winning” old-style, but if Labour had to choose someone well-suited to parliament in serious/boring mode, it is hard to imagine anyone better than Starmer, and he will chalk today’s outing up, not as a triumph, but certainly as a success. His questions were clear, forensic and focused, he avoided bland or trite sloganising and he adopted a measured tone consistent with responsible, constructive opposition. Quite what the public will make of this when the alternative is Boris Johnson remains to be seen, but high-grade seriousness is what Starmer offered in the Labour leadership contest and it is what he delivered today.